Dragoon Brewing Company is on a mission to make the best beer it can. Though it officially opened in 2012, Dragoon got its start in the mid-90s as the brainchild of founder Bruce Greene.

Dragoon Brewing Company is on a mission to make the best beer it can. Though it officially opened in 2012, Dragoon got its start in the mid-90s as the brainchild of founder Bruce Greene. He started saving to open a brewery shortly after his first home brewing attempt. Ten years later, he teamed up with his son, Eric Greene, by then a student of the American Brewer’s Guild, and Tristan White to found Dragoon.

Only two of Dragoon’s many offerings are brewed year round: Dragoon IPA and Stronghold Session Ale. The IPA is their most popular beer, and it can be found in many bars, restaurants, and stores around town.

Seasonal and specialty beers are always in rotation at the taproom, and an up-to-date list along with short descriptions can be found on their sleek website.

Like many other Tucson-area breweries, Dragoon incorporates local ingredients when possible, but their approach tends to be classic and uncluttered rather than adventurous and experimental. Offerings like Unihopper with Columbus, a classic pale ale with a single hop variety, and Monsooner, a Dortmund-style lager that sticks to beer’s four basic ingredients—barley, water, hops, and yeast—are testament to the power of a simple thing done well.

Dragoon does take on a variety of styles, and their offerings are far from dull. The August menu includes Pank Drnk, a gose with prickly pear, and Biere del Bac, a Belgian style quad brewed with piloncillo sugar.

Food trucks are often outside the taproom, open Wednesday through Sunday. Trivia night is on Thursdays, and other events, such as special releases, are sometimes scheduled. It’s also possible to rent the taproom for larger events.

If a visit to the taproom is not an option, cans of Dragoon beer can be purchased at about 30 stores in the Tucson area, and the IPA and Stronghold Session, as well as select seasonal brews, can be found at many bars and restaurants around town. Or you can pick up a keg from the brewery.